Driver Education Initiative Scholarship

Accidents have become “the fourth leading cause of death” (Holland) in the United States, with roughly “twenty-one percent” (“FastStats”) of these accidents being related to driving incidents. Drivers’ education is a course designed to expand the road safety knowledge for those who are attempting to get their licenses. Upon completion of this course, drivers become better equipped and aware of how to handle any unanticipated situations they may encounter while behind the wheel. Drivers’ education is important to help reduce these statistics, improve the safety on our roads, and prepare drivers for anything. There are many steps that can be taken to reduce the number of deaths related to driving.

Knowledge gained from drivers’ education is highly important and could potentially save a life. As a current driver, I believe drivers’ education is something that has saved me from being in potentially fatal crashes. During my time with drivers’ education, I learned many valuable lessons, one being how to handle driving in bad weather. Twice this past summer I had found myself driving in monsoon-like weather with no shoulder of the road to pull over onto. If I hadn’t completed the drivers’ education course, I would not have known the proper procedures to handle this situation. Immediately, I turned on my hazard lights, so other cars could see my vehicle, and drove slowly with caution, until there was a safe space to pull over. If I had not known to turn on my hazard lights, another vehicle easily could’ve collided with mine, due to the fact they couldn’t see my vehicle. This could’ve become a fatal car accident because emergency care may take a prolonged period of time to arrive due to the weather so it may be too late to recover from any severe or life-threatening injuries. Another potentially life-saving lesson I have learned from drivers’ education is how to manage car difficulties when driving. Earlier this year, I was driving home late at night when the axel of my car snapped from underneath. Initially, my first reaction was to panic but, I remembered the most important thing to do in these situations is not to panic and stay focused on the road. Driving in the dark, I lost control of the back right tire of my car and my brakes weren’t working properly. With a calm and focused mindset, I managed to switch the outside lane, of a two-lane road, and pull over into an empty parking lot. Once I was able to stop my vehicle, I made the call for help. Without the drivers’ education course, I most likely would’ve panicked and crashed into the cars driving next to me, potentially causing a deadly accident. Drivers’ education is a course that had prepared me to deal with those unanticipated situations and potentially saved the lives of myself and others. The lessons learned throughout this course are extremely valuable and will be very useful at the most unexpected times. If every driver took drivers’ education, every person on the road would be more knowledgeable and have a greater ability to prevent these fatal incidents, reducing the mortality rate. This course gives drivers the most important and necessary skills for being on the road.

There are many steps that can be taken to reduce motorized vehicle mortality rate. The biggest steps could include changing standard procedures for obtaining a license such as, implementing laws requiring the completion of drivers’ education before taking a drivers’ license test, or improving road infrastructure. There also are simple steps that can be taken to reduce the mortality rate. These simpler steps may include ensuring all seatbelts are buckled before driving and removing any distractions from the driver. The steps taken to reduce the number of deaths related to driving can be simple or complicated, but no number of complications should be too great to stand in the way of saving a life.

Car accidents and driving irresponsibly are two of the types of accidents that can be fatal for an individual. Within my lifetime, I have never experienced being in a car accident with another car, but I have experienced collisions with inanimate objects. The times where you experience a non-threatening collision, you truly begin to grow a larger respect for the road and the vehicle you are driving. After being in these incidents, I have learned the importance of road safety and have monitored my driving habits to make sure I am being safe because I never want to put myself or others in harms way. Aside from collisions, I have experienced irresponsible driving as well. I have experienced scares while I was driving where I feared my life was in danger due to the recklessness of others. Aside from personal experience, I have had second-hand experiences with these unsafe driving incidents as well. Some of the most important people to me have experienced many tragedies with car accidents and I have had to drive out to help them when they were in need. The most eye-opening experience was when I had received a call about one of my loved ones being in a car accident, seconds away from their driveway. Another car flipped over the top of their car, landing on the hood of their car, just inches away from causing a fatal accident. Immediately my world froze, and I felt helpless because I didn’t know if things were going to be okay, luckily everyone ended up healthy and safe. This type of terrorizing moment was a result of reckless speeding. Once someone experienced an accident on the road, their perspective on life changes, as did mine. These experiences are terrifying and stress the importance of safe driving.

From all my experiences with reckless and irresponsible driving, I believe it is important to preach the importance of safe driving. To personally become a safer driver, I have removed all distractions while driving. I make sure to follow all laws of the road while being a defensive driver. As for others, I do my best to help educate on the importance of road safety. Prior to college, I was in an organization for Students Against Destructive Decisions. With this organization I was able to attend the 2^nd annual “Teen Safe Driving ROADeo” in Exton, Chester County, PA. At this event I was able to learn new skills for driving safety and be a part of a 6abc news report, informing teens about the importance of safe driving. This opportunity allowed my knowledge to expand while expanding the knowledge of others. Road safety is something that is highly important. The biggest step I would encourage any driver to take is the completion of a drivers’ education course. The skills and knowledge you will gain from drivers’ education are invaluable and could save a life.

Works Cited

“FastStats – Accidents or Unintentional Injuries.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 13 Sept. 2023, www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/accidental-injury.htm.

Holland, Kimberly. “10 Leading Causes of Death in the United States.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 25 Sept. 2023, www.healthline.com/health/leading-causes-of-death#takeaway.